Rear trunk gas strut mod -- any reason not to revert to original? Options

[98101]

My car came with gas struts to lift the trunk lid. I don't know why someone felt the need to install these. The previous owner was a bit of an oddball. I'm considering putting this back to stock, but I want to make sure I'm not missing some important reason.

Downsides of this modification:

1. Slightly more awkward to get the roof in and out.
2. Looks out of place.
3. Holes cut in metal.
4. Gas struts frequently fail and need replacing (though this is cheap and easy).
5. Gas struts may not work properly in very cold weather.

I searched the forum and these were only arguments in favor I could find:

1. Necessary to make room for some engine installations.
2. Torsion bar replacement can be dangerous (though 914 Rubber sells a tool that may help).

My car has a cable release for the rear trunk, in case that's relevant somehow.

[bbrock]

I am a hater of gas struts and not just on the 914 - ALL of them for the cold weather reason. However, the pivots for the trunk hinges are under tremendous strain by the torsion bars and if the mechanism gets rusty or dirty, the pivot brackets fatigue and break off requiring new pivots, and often a patch, to be welded in. It is a PITA job that I think leads many to ditch the torsion roads for struts. Drilling holes to install struts sounds like a PITA to me too, so I'm not sure there is much difference.

[ClayPerrine]

I am a hater of gas struts and not just on the 914 - ALL of them for the cold weather reason. However, the pivots for the trunk hinges are under tremendous strain by the torsion bars and if the mechanism gets rusty or dirty, the pivot brackets fatigue and break off requiring new pivots, and often a patch, to be welded in. It is a PITA job that I think leads many to ditch the torsion roads for struts. Drilling holes to install struts sounds like a PITA to me too, so I'm not sure there is much difference.

Use the J-West trunk pivot kit. It is adjustable and uses heim joints so no more broken off pivots.

https://www.jwestengineering.com/914-Rear-T...-EACH_p_17.html

[rjames]

I am a hater of gas struts and not just on the 914 - ALL of them for the cold weather reason. However, the pivots for the trunk hinges are under tremendous strain by the torsion bars and if the mechanism gets rusty or dirty, the pivot brackets fatigue and break off requiring new pivots, and often a patch, to be welded in. It is a PITA job that I think leads many to ditch the torsion roads for struts. Drilling holes to install struts sounds like a PITA to me too, so I'm not sure there is much difference.

Use the J-West trunk pivot kit. It is adjustable and uses heim joints so no more broken off pivots.

https://www.jwestengineering.com/914-Rear-T...-EACH_p_17.html

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I hate the gas struts. I also installed the J-West trunk pivot kit which is a beautifully overbuilt product. The OEM torsion bars are a PITA if you have to deal with them, but in the time it would take to remove them and install gas struts you could've fixed whatever issue caused you to consider gas struts in the first place.

[ClayPerrine]

I am a hater of gas struts and not just on the 914 - ALL of them for the cold weather reason. However, the pivots for the trunk hinges are under tremendous strain by the torsion bars and if the mechanism gets rusty or dirty, the pivot brackets fatigue and break off requiring new pivots, and often a patch, to be welded in. It is a PITA job that I think leads many to ditch the torsion roads for struts. Drilling holes to install struts sounds like a PITA to me too, so I'm not sure there is much difference.

Use the J-West trunk pivot kit. It is adjustable and uses heim joints so no more broken off pivots.

https://www.jwestengineering.com/914-Rear-T...-EACH_p_17.html

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I hate the gas struts. I also installed the J-West trunk pivot kit which is a beautifully overbuilt product. The OEM torsion bars are a PITA if you have to deal with them, but in the time it would take to remove them and install gas struts you could've fixed whatever issue caused you do consider gas struts in the first place.

And if you put anti-seize on the shoulder of the OEM bolt, it won't seize to the hinge and break the mount.

[Mikey914]

I am a hater of gas struts and not just on the 914 - ALL of them for the cold weather reason. However, the pivots for the trunk hinges are under tremendous strain by the torsion bars and if the mechanism gets rusty or dirty, the pivot brackets fatigue and break off requiring new pivots, and often a patch, to be welded in. It is a PITA job that I think leads many to ditch the torsion roads for struts. Drilling holes to install struts sounds like a PITA to me too, so I'm not sure there is much difference.

Use the J-West trunk pivot kit. It is adjustable and uses heim joints so no more broken off pivots.

https://www.jwestengineering.com/914-Rear-T...-EACH_p_17.html

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I hate the gas struts. I also installed the J-West trunk pivot kit which is a beautifully overbuilt product. The OEM torsion bars are a PITA if you have to deal with them, but in the time it would take to remove them and install gas struts you could've fixed whatever issue caused you do consider gas struts in the first place.

And if you put anti-seize on the shoulder of the OEM bolt, it won't seize to the hinge and break the mount.

The shoulder bolt is another animal. In stock configuration they are under a load continuously. If you look at the picture of the part you can see there is not a lot of material there. These are best changed out every soo often.